Convertible running-gear.



Patented June 1l, 1918.

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S14/vento@ l GLENN H Cuxa'rlss G. H. CURTISS.

CONVERTIBLE RUNNING GEAR.

lMPLlcATloN FILED Nov,1s.19x6.

Patented J une 11, 1918.

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1,269,570. 'Pmnted June 11, 1918.

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UNrrED STA-'ras PATENT OFFICE.

GLENN H., CURTISS, OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CURTISS AROPLANE AND MOTOR CORPORATION, A CORPORATION 0F NEW YORK.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 11, 1918.

Original application led August 22, 1911, Sgrial No. 645,340.v Divided and this application led November 18, 1916. Serial No. 132,104.

To all whom t may concern I Be it known that I, GLENN H. CURTISS, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Convertible Running-Gear, of which the following is av specification. Launching and landing means for an aircraft is the subject of my invention. The invention is directed particularly to a launching and landin means for that type of aircraft commonly nown as la'hydroaeroplane, but it will be very obvious upon an understanding of my invention that it may be applied with facility to other types of aircraft as well.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 645,340, filed Aug. 22, 1911, inivhich there is disclosed a large number .o-fifniechanisms and constructions relating to aircraft 'of the heavier-than-air type.

The prime object of this invention isfto attain efficiency in a launchin and landing means of the collapsible or folding' wheel type. A cordinate object is to attain sturdiness and durability of construction` without detracting from the necessary high efficiency. In making eiiciency an object I contemplate over-all efficiency, that is, mechanical efficiency, aerodynamic efficiency, and eiiiciency of manipulation. Many such devices have been proposed; in some of them one of these ends has been attained, and in some, others; but innone, so far as I am l aware, have all of them been attained in the degree which isV necessary for commercial exploitation.

Broadly speaking, my invention is characterized by a collapsible supporting structure for running gear wheels, constitutin the ground running element of -a groun landing gear, arranged to be moved from collapsed position either by gravity or by resistance of the medium throu h which the machine is traveling to exten ed position,

and to be-automatically locked in such ex; tended position upon reaching it. No power is therefore required forextending the landing gear to operative position, and but a very mimmum of time and attention. The'v yrelease of a simple detent effects the whole operation in a most efficacious manner. A combined unlocking and retracting mechanism is utilized for effecting the collapse ing a position above the bottom of the watery borne,l base suciently to clear the surface of the water when the craft is operated thereover. Cert-ain features of my invention are directed to this combination of the land running gear with the water borne base.' Thus certain additional wheels areA provided which give the land running gear a stability in spite of the fact that the water borne base is maintained clear of the surfacev of the ground.

That form of my invention illustrated was that best known to me at the date of filing the parent application above identified but it will be apprehended immediately that other embodiments have been developed by me and by others since that time, and that still others are possible.

Of the drawings, 1

.Figure jl is a perspective view from the front, parts having been omitted -in order not to complicate the drawings,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation,

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 are deta-ils of the folding wheel construction, and

Figs. 6 to 8 are enlarged details of the con- The aeroplane-is of thebiplane type comprising upper and lower wings 1 and 2, connected together in the usual fashion. For lateral .balance .the ailerons 22-23 are operyoke 7 0` Aof the Curtiss type. For longitudivnalcontrol there is provided a horizontal stabilizing surface 10 in connection with whichlare mounted elevators 12. These ele-1 vators are' operated from the centr 1l column ated through the intermediary of a shoulder ,I

7 which is oscillatable in the longitudinal f aeroplane are fully described in my parent application and are at this time fully understood. Between the prow 28 of this pontoon and the elevated `motor 18 there are extended a pair of braces 26. These lextend respectively from the engine beds 17 at a point intermediate the leading and trailing edges of the aeroplane wings diagonally downward and forward, connectingwith the structure of the lower wing at a point in the vicinity of its leading edge and substantially vertically above the vertical struts 25 by means of which the aeroplane is supported upon the pontoon 27. The members 26 are thus spaced apart. They support, in front of the driving motor, both the opera` tors seat 71 with which is connected 'the shoulder yoke 70, and the control column 7 and its wheel 66. They also support the control members ofthe launching and landing means as will hereinafter appear.

'c 45 and 46 are wheels constituting the preferred form of means for supporting the machine in travel in contact with the earth. They are hung from the machine and project slightly below the lower surface of the boat, as indicated in .Fig 2. In order that they may exert less resistance when the machine is moving through the water, I have provided means under 4the control of the operator forraising the wheels out of the water when the machine is floating, and for depressing the same at will. In the pre ferred construction, 47 is a brace pivoted at 48 to the frame of the machine, and 49 .is

another brace pivoted at 50 to the frame,

and at 51 pivoted to a short arm 52. A locking device shown in Figs. 3 and 4 in detail, operates to hold lthe wheels in their depressed osition shown in Fig. 1.- As shown in igs. 3, 4 and 5, the wheel is pivoted to the U-shaped .frame 52 having projections 53 pivoted to-the U-shaped end 54 of the'brace 49. Bent arms 55 xed to `the frame 52 carry pivoted to them at 56 a locking detent 57, which has a catch-nose 58 engaging a bar 59 on the Ushaped frame 54. 60 is a spring normally holding, the latch in the ositionshown in Fig. 4. The preferred hanism for raising the wheels comprises a slidable rack b ar 105 (see Figs. 5 and 6) engaged by a spring-pressed detent 106. 62 is a wire connected to the bar and running to the'axle of the wheel, being led over suitable pulleys such as 61. 107 is a foot lever pivoted to the boat at. 108 and carrying a spring dog 109. 110 isa spring to draw lever 107 backward. As the foot lever is reciprocated it forces the-bar 105 downwardly, being held by detent 106 at e'ach reciprocation, drawing on wire'62 and collapsing the frame 47, 49, 52 to the raised position shown in Fig. 5. The holding detent 106 may bey wheel is provided with the same construc-` tion, the wires 62 of both wheels being connected to rack bar 105. Releasing the detent 106 before the machine comes out of the water allows the weight of the parts and the resistance oered by the water to throw the wheels back to the locked position shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The machine may then travel out of the water onto the land and over the same 'without the resistance which would be exerted by the boat 27 if in contact with the earth. Supported by brackets beneath the fore part of pontoon 27 is still a third wheel 150 as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 2. With l wheels 45 and 46 it constitutes. the third point of a triangular wheel 4base. This wheel as shown is non-collapsible and is preferably considerably smaller than wheels 45 and 46. It is placed at such elevation that when running upon the groundit maintains the fore part of the pontoon elevated above the surface. i

The wheels 46, which constitute the main supporting wheels of the machine are so arranged relatively to the water borne base and in fact-relatively to the machine in its entirety that the arialw line of the wheels, when extended, l-ies in substantially the transverse vertical plane of 'the center of gravity and consequently support substantially the entire weight of the machine when at rest upon the ground. The supplemental on third wheel 1,50 (in ,effect al runner) is longitudinally separated 'fromthe main supporting wheels and so positioned relatively to the machine as to bear only a very minor portion ofthe total weight thereof and yet suicient weight to prevent contact of the water borne base with the ground when the machine is operated as a landmachine.

In operation, the machine may' rise either from the land or water as desired and re-A turn thereto. If operating' upon the surface of the water with the running gear wheels 45-46 in collapsed condition as shown in Fig. 5, it is desired to run out onto a beach,

as the shore is approached the operator releases detent 106 by pulling wire'lll and the wheels are thereby allowed to drop by gravity to the position shown in Fig. 2. First the rush of the air (assuming operation is at high speed) and then the rush of the water, thrusts the wheels rearwardly and downwardly as the machine progresses, thereby aiding gravity in effecting a quick extension. As they move into extended position, they are locked through the automatic action of the spring detent 57 and by virtue of the triangular arrangement of bracing formed by the structure of the lower wing 2 and the struts 47, and 49-52 in combination, and are rigidly and sturdily held in their extended position. As they project slightly below tahe bottom of the boat, the craft may be run out upon the shore at speed and with the bottom of the waterborne base 27 free from contact with the gro-und. If having started from the land on the wheels as a. launching base and having proceeded either into the air or into the water, it is desired to operate upon the surface .of the water, the operator has simply to manipulate in oscillating motion the lever 107 as previously described, whereupon the main wheels 45-46 are step by step withdrawn into their retracted or collapsed position in which they'are elevated above that level at which they would engage the water land offer material resistance to forward progress. In addition to releasing the latch 57, the cable 1 13 by virtue of its connection with the collapsing strut 49-52 not only unlocks but assists to break the toggle constituted by the branches 49-52 of the strut. It also takes some of the weight of the gear as it is collapsed depending upon the amount of lost motion which is provided between cablell and cable 62.

What I claim is:

l. A launching and landing gear for aircraft comprising a runner, a supporting strut for the runner arranged to be placed under compression and a second collapsible supporting strut for the runner arranged to be placed under tension by rearward thrust, the compression member being located aft of the tension member.

2. A launching and landing gear 4for aircraft comprising a V-strut frame collapsible in a longitudinal plane, and a runner supported by said frame and movable forwardly and upwardly as the landing gear is collapsed without altering the placement of the points of attachment of either strut relatively to the machine.

3. A collapsible launching and landing gear for air-craft comprisinga collapsible runner rigidly braced against collapse rearwardly and arranged to collapse forwardly and upwardly only without altering the placement of the points of attachment of the Arunner supports relatively to the machine.

toggle,

' 4. A launching and landing gear for aircraft comprising a runner, a collapsible triangularly arranged support for the runner, the base of which is immovable relative to the craft, one side of which is fixed longitudinally as respects the craft and the, runner, and the other side ofwhich is collapsible to effect collapse of the support.

5. A collapsible launching and landing gear for air-craft comprising a runner, a fixed part of the craft and a pair of meeting struts pivotally connected therewith at points longitudinally spaced, the pivot axes of the struts being relatively stationary, the rearmost one of said struts 'being longitudinally fixed in length the body of the craft and the front strut adjustable to permit movement of the runner with the rearmost strut as a radius.

6. A launching and landing gear for air-l craft comprising a collapsible runner having extended and retracted positions, a sectional strut connected with said runner, and step by step operating mechanism connected with said strut for relatively moving its sections. y y

7. A launching andlanding gear for air craft comprising a collapsible runner a1'- ranged for collapse forwardly and upwardly only, means for .retracting said runner to collapsed position, and alatch engaging to` hold the runner inextended position independently of said retractingmeans.

8. A launching and landing gear for aircraft comprising a runner, and a collapsible triangularly arranged support therefor, the base of which is immovable relative to the craft, one side of which is fixed longitudinally as respects both the craft and the runner, and the other side of which is longitudinally collapsible to effect the collapse, together with a latch to retain the runner in collapsed position.

9. A launching and landing gear for aircraft comprising a ruimer, and a collapsible triangularly arranged support therefor, the

base of which is immovable relative to the craft, one side of which is fixed longitudinally as respects both the craft and the runner, and theother side of which is foldablc to effect the collapse, a latch arranged in connection with said foldable side to hold the same against collapse during operation,

and means for retracting the runner.

10. A launching and landing. gear foraircraft comprising a collapsible runner, a release latch arranged to hold said runner in collapsed position, and foot operated means for collapsing the runner, aerial controlling means for said craft and hand operated means for said aerial control means.v i

11. A launching and landing gear fol` aircraft comprising a runner, and a collapsible framework supporting Vthe same including a between the runner and y a lock for` the toggle arranged to hold the runner in extended position, and operating mechanism to move the runner from extended to retracted position connected with said lock to operate the same and break the toggle.

12., A launching and landing gear for aircraft comprising acollapsible runner which is normally locked against collapse and operating mechanism to move the run having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined prow, runners mountedrespectively at opposite sides of the waterborne base for movement into and out of position beneath the horizontal plane of the bottom of the waterborne base, a fixed runner mounted forwardly of 4the downwardly and rearwardly inclined prow, a collapsible support forv the movable runners and mechanism' for controlling the eii'ectiveness oi the support. l

15, A launching and landing gear for hydroaeroplanes including a pontoon having a downwardly and rearwardly inclined prow, a land runner projected beneath said prow portion together with collapsible runners located rearwardly of said prow runner at opposite sides' of the pontoon, both the -forward runner and the rear runner, when extended, extending beyond the horizontal plane of the bottom of the pontoon.

16. In a hydro-aero machine, the combination with a water borne base having a o construction adapted to support the machine by displacement when at rest on the water and to bring it to a hydroplaning position when traveling at hydroplaning speed thereover, of a pair of laterally spaced main supporting wheel so arranged relatively to the water borne base that they may be extended and retracted respectively below and above the normal water line thereof and so arranged relatively to the machine in its entiretyl that the axial line of the wheels, when extended, liesin substantially the transverse vertical plane .of the center of gravity and they consequently support substantially the entire weight of the machine when at rest upon the ground, said wheels when extended being effective as a means for launching and landing the machine respectively from and upon land, and when retracted, located above the water line so as to interfere in no way with the launching and landing vof the machine `respectively from and upon water.

17. In a hydro-aero machine, the combination with a water borne base having a construction adapted to support the machine by displacement when the machine is at rest upon the water and to bring it to a hydroplaning position when traveling at hydroplaning speed thereover, of a pair of laterally spaced main supporting wheels so arranged relatively to the water borne base that they may be extended and retracted respectively below and above the normal water line thereof and so arranged relatively to the machine in its entirety that the axial line of the wheels, when extended,

lies in substantially the transverse vertical y plane of the center of gravity and they consequently support substantially the total weight of the machine when at rest upon the ground, said wheels when extended being effective as a means for launching and landing the machine respectively from and upon land, and when retracted, located above the water line so as tointer'fere in' -no way with the launching and landing of GLENN H. CURTISS. 

